Partners decide to shut the doors of the Batavia Party House to focus on other businesses

Michael Tomaszewski, right, marvels at the fact that he and business partner Dave Stupp have remained friends through seven and a half years of operating the Batavia Party House together.

Friends that go into business together often don't stay friends, Tomaszewski noted today.

The two businessmen were talking about a change in their partnership, one that will spell the end of the Batavia Party House as we know it.

While the partners will continue to operate a catering service together, the party house, after more than 40 years in business, is hosting its last party on Monday.

Both Tomaszewski and Stupp have stakes in other local businesses, and those have increasingly become a focus of their time and resources. Operating the  Batavia Party House -- located at 5762 E. Main St. Road,  Batavia -- has simply become something they no longer wish to do.

"Since we began this place together, our lives have gone in different directions," Tomaszewski said. "Dave has the pizza business (partner in Pauly's Pizza) and the deli (Northside Deli). I have the funeral business (Michael S. Tomaszewski Funeral and Cremation Chapel), and those businesses are doing well."

Stupp and pizzeria partner Paul Bernardini recently expanded Pauly's Pizza into Clarence. Tomaszewski recently added a reception center next to his funeral home on West Main Street.

"We have other business interests now," Stupp added.

Stupp and Tomaszewski tried finding a buyer for the party house, which was founded in the 1970s by Tom and Bill Barber.

"This part of town is growing, with what's going on at the ag park  and Adams trucking coming in next door, we've had a lot of interest in the building," Stupp said. "But, nobody has come forward with an interest in the party house as a party house."